Tell me about Clarifix
Clarifix is a new, minimally invasive, and effective surgery for chronic rhinitis.
This surgery involves freezing the nerve at the back of the nose responsible runny nose, sneezing and congestion.
This treatment can significantly improve these symptoms and quality of life.
What happens during surgery?
During Clarifix, we start by decongesting the nose, meaning that we make the lining less swollen. We do this by spraying decongestant into the nose, and then gently packing the crevices of the nose with decongestant-soaked cotton patties. When the nose lining is less swollen, we pass a special balloon into the back of the nose, using an endoscope to visualise the area clearly. We place the balloon up against the area where the posterior nasal nerve is. We then fire liquid nitrogen into the balloon, which freezes the nerve. It is more comfortable when the procedure is under general anesthesia. However, we can also perform it under local anesthesia in selected patients.
You can watch what happens during Clarifix surgery in the video below:
How long is the surgery?
The freezing time is typically between 30 and 60 seconds per side. However, we spend longer decongesting the nose carefully.
Will my symptoms improve immediately?
Most patients experience improvement within 30 days after treatment. Further improvement may also continue to take place for up to twelve months.
Are there any side effects?
Clarifix can make your nose more congested in the first few days after the procedure. This can be due to build-up of gooey debris in your nose after the procedure. Coming back to have this cleaned out can help open up your nose again.
Some patients experience a headache at the front of the face. It can be similar to an “ice-cream” headache. Although it can be severe, simple pain medication is effective for relieving the pain.
Nosebleed is a rare side effect. Nosebleeds are more likely if the patient has a clotting disorder, uncontrolled high blood pressure, or is taking blood thinners.
New surgery for chronic rhinitis, but not experimental surgery
Clarifix may be a relatively new surgery for chronic rhinitis, but it is definitely not experimental. The concept of nerve ablation has been around for many years. However, ablating the end branches with a minimally invasive approach is a recent development. The American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head & Neck Surgery endorses the use of Clarifix, based on its safety and efficacy data.
AAO endorses the use of PNN ablation for the treatment of medically-refractory chronic rhinitis. We do not consider these treatments to be experimental.
Position Statement from the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery
17 January 2023
You can read the full Position Statement of the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery by clicking here.
Find out more about Clarifix for chronic rhinitis
Read more about our services for nose, sinus and allergy at AdvancedENT, or contact us for an appointment.